Protector-class coastal patrol boat

{{Short description|2002 Maltese naval ship class}} {{other uses|Protector class (disambiguation){{!}}Protector class}}{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox ship |sclass=2 |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=US Navy 111205-N-FV216-156 The Armed Forces of Malta counter piracy vessel protection detachment demonstrates aerial boarding procedures during Eur.jpg |image_caption=Malta's patrol boats on an anti-piracy training mission in 2011 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview |name=Protector class |builders=Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana |operators=Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta |class_before=''Kondor I'' class |class_after= |subclasses= |cost= |built_range= 2002–2004 |in_service_range= 2002–present |in_commission_range= |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned= |total_ships_completed=2 |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active=2 |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost= |total_ships_retired= |total_ships_preserved= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |type=Patrol boat |tonnage= |displacement= {{convert|92|LT}} |length= {{convert|26.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} |beam= {{convert|5.8|m|ft|abbr=on}} |height= |draft= {{convert|1.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} |depth= |power= |propulsion=2 × MTU diesels |speed= over {{convert|25|kn|lk=in}} |range= {{convert|900|nmi|km|abbr=on|lk=in}} |endurance=5 days |boats= |complement=10 |sensors=1 × Navigation I-Band radar |EW= |armament=2 × 12.7 mm machine guns |armor= |notes= }} }}

The '''Protector-class coastal patrol boats''' are a class of coastal patrol boats of the Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta. They are {{convert|87|ft|m|adj=on}} patrol boats based on the Stan 2600 patrol vessel design from the Netherlands shipbuilding firm Damen Group. The Hong Kong Police were the first organization to order vessels based on this design. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has 73 patrol boats from this class, where they are known as the {{sclass2|Marine Protector|patrol boat|4}}. Malta ordered two vessels, and they were built by Bollinger Shipyards to the USCG specifications under the US$13 Million grant from the United States provided by the United States Securities Act of 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 October 2002 |title=AFM to take delivery of new Lm2.3m patrol boat |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/afm-to-take-delivery-of-new-lm2-3m-patrol-boat.164311 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230516070252/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/afm-to-take-delivery-of-new-lm2-3m-patrol-boat.164311 |archive-date=16 May 2023 |access-date=16 May 2023 |website=Times of Malta}}</ref> They were given pennant numbers ''P51'' and ''P52''. In 2013, both patrol boats were upgraded with new equipment including infrared cameras and a rigid hull inflatable boat. The upgrade cost €1.7 million and was co-funded by the European Union’s External Fund.<ref name=TimesOfMalta2013-07-25>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130725/local/afm.479427 | title=€1.7 million worth of equipment presented to AFM | publisher=Times of Malta | date=2013-07-25 | author= | accessdate=2014-05-05 }}</ref>

==P51== ''P51'' was commissioned on 18 November 2002, and it was the AFM's first vessel to be ordered brand new, as all previous ones were bought or donated after being retired from foreign naval service. ''P51'' took part in the search and rescue operations after the Simshar tragedy in July 2008, and it recovered the dead body of Carmelo Bugeja and took the sole survivor Simon Bugeja from the fishing boat ''Grecale'' to Xatt it-Tiben in Floriana.<ref name=TimesOfMalta2012-07-20>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080720/local/afm-gives-account-of-search-for-fishermen-so-far.217407 | title=AFM gives account of search for fishermen | publisher=Times of Malta | date=2012-07-20 | accessdate=2014-05-05 }}</ref> Since its commissioning, the patrol boat has rescued the lives of over 2,000 illegal immigrants and covered over 50,000 nautical miles.<ref name=TimesOfMalta2012-11-12>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121112/local/one-patrol-boat-2-169-persons-rescued.445125 | title=One patrol boat, 2,169 persons rescued | publisher=Times of Malta | date=2012-11-12 | author= | accessdate=2014-05-05 }}</ref> Some examples include: *25 August 2009: ''P51'' intercepted a boat with 60 distressed Eritrean immigrants<ref> {{cite news |url = http://www.maltamediaonline.com/?p=12919 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055147/http://www.maltamediaonline.com/?p=12919 |url-status = usurped |archive-date = 2011-07-16 |title = Video: Italian media demonise Malta on illegal immigration |publisher = Maltamediaonline.com |date = 2009-08-25 |accessdate = 2009-10-16 }}</ref><ref name=TimesOfMalta2009-08-25>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090825/local/other-immigrants-rescued-off-lampedusa.270824 | title=Updated: More immigrants rescued off Lampedusa – AFM provided basic supplies, lifejackets | publisher=Times of Malta | date=2009-08-25 | accessdate=2014-05-05 }}</ref> *15 September 2009: ''P51'' intercepted a dinghy with 68 immigrants<ref name=TimesOfMalta2009-09-15>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090915/local/68-migrants-being-brought-to-malta.273470 | title=68 migrants being brought to Malta | publisher=Times of Malta | date=2009-09-15 | accessdate=2014-05-05 }}</ref> *20 August 2012: ''P51'' and a King Air aircraft intercepted a boat with 56 men and 24 women<ref name=TimesOfMalta2012-08-20>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120820/local/77-migrants-on-way-to-malta.433713 | title=80 migrants brought to Malta | publisher=Times of Malta | date=2012-08-20 | accessdate=2014-05-05 }}</ref> On 12 November 2012, the tenth anniversary of her commissioning, the ''Times of Malta'' published an article to reflect on the ''P51''{{'}}s first ten years.<ref name=timesofmalta2012-11-12/> The article stated that: {| class="wikitable" | :''"...P51 has since covered 52,230 nautical miles and rescued 2,169 persons. It conducted 63 boarding operations at sea and 15 fisheries enforcement operations."''<ref name=timesofmalta2012-11-12/> |} *30 December 2018: ''P51'' rescued 69 migrants from a wooden boat in distress, 117NM south west of Malta.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFM in migrant rescue operation|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/91939/afm_in_migrant_rescue_operation|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Malta Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Updated: 69 migrants in distress rescued by AFM patrol boat, brought to Malta - The Malta Independent|url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-12-30/local-news/69-migrants-in-distress-rescued-by-AFM-patrol-boat-being-brought-to-Malta-6736201447|access-date=2021-03-25|website=www.independent.com.mt}}</ref> *28 March 2019: ''P51'' took part in an operation to retake merchant ship ''Elhibru 1'' which was overpowered by migrants refusing to go back to Libya. The operation was a success and the merchant vessel was safely escorted to Boiler Wharf, Senglea. Aboard the ship there were 108 rescued migrants which included 19 women and 12 children. 5 of the migrants were arraigned with an act of 'Piracy'.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-28|title=Ship hijacked by migrants off Libya escorted to Malta|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/28/ship-hijacked-by-migrants-off-libya-escorted-to-malta|access-date=2021-03-25|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=[WATCH] Tanker overpowered by migrants who refused to go back to Libya, in Malta|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/93931/armed_forces_of_malta_boards_tanker_overpowered_by_migrants_heading_to_malta|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Malta Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Maltese troops take control of hijacked tanker|url=https://hilltopmonitor.com/2019/03/maltese-troops-take-control-of-hijacked-tanker/|access-date=2021-03-25|website=hilltopmonitor.com}}</ref> *13 April 2019: ''P51'' received 64 migrants from the ''Alan Kurdi'' NGO rescue vessel that was stranded off Maltese waters for 10 days. The ''P51'' then disembarked the migrants at Hay Wharf base. They were permitted safe land only after the Maltese government made sure that none of them are to stay in the country but instead they are gonna be redistributed between Germany, France, Portugal and Luxembourg.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Update 2 {{!}} Rescued migrants from Alan Kurdi brought to Malta for resettlement|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/europe/94276/france_and_germany_to_take_in_64_migrants_stranded_off_maltese_coast_|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Malta Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bellamy|first=Daniel|date=2019-04-13|title=Malta allows dozens of migrants to land|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/04/13/four-eu-states-agree-to-take-in-64-rescued-migrants-stranded-at-sea|access-date=2021-03-25|website=euronews|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=TPR : The Public's Radio : TPR|url=https://thepublicsradio.org/article/malta-4-eu-nations-will-take-in-64-migrants-from-aid-ship|access-date=2021-03-25|website=thepublicsradio.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=2019-04-13|title=E.U. Countries Agree to Take Migrants After Rescue Ship Standoff|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/13/world/europe/malta-migrants-ship.html|access-date=2021-03-25|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-13|title=Malta: 4 EU nations will take in 64 migrants from aid ship|url=https://apnews.com/article/ee50f953ae3d4c92b2a23444050bb4c3|access-date=2021-03-25|website=AP NEWS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shahrigian|first=Shant|date=2019-04-13|title=Four EU nations will take in 64 migrants rescued in Mediterranean Sea|url=https://nypost.com/2019/04/13/four-eu-nations-will-take-in-64-migrants-rescued-in-mediterranean-sea/|access-date=2021-03-25|website=New York Post|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rescued refugees allowed to disembark in Malta, go on to Europe|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/4/13/rescued-refugees-allowed-to-disembark-in-malta-go-on-to-europe|access-date=2021-03-25|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}}</ref> *11 May 2019: ''P51'' disembarked 85 migrants at Hay Wharf after they were rescued the day before from a sinking wooden boat. This rescue came after at least 50 migrants died off the coast of Tunisia a few hours prior.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-11|title=85 Migrants, Including One Baby And Six Women, Arrive In Malta After Being Found On A Wooden Boat|url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/85-migrants-including-one-baby-and-six-women-arrive-in-malta-after-being-found-on-a-wooden-boat|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Lovin Malta|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche|title=Malta rescues 85 migrants from sinking vessel {{!}} DW {{!}} 11.05.2019|url=https://www.dw.com/en/malta-rescues-85-migrants-from-sinking-vessel/a-48699014|access-date=2021-03-25|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=AFM saves group of migrants|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/afm-saves-group-of-migrants.709707|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Times of Malta|language=en-gb}}</ref>

==P52== thumb|Distressed illegal immigrants are transferred to ''P52'' in 2013. ''P52'' was commissioned two years later on 7 July 2004.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.uscg.mil/acquisITION/newsroom/pdf/CG9newsletterOct08Sup.pdf | title=Acquisition Success Story: the Marine Protector-class Patrol Boat Project | publisher=United States Coast Guard | date=October 2008 | author=Hunter C. Keeter | accessdate=2009-10-16 }}</ref> It also took part in the search and rescue efforts after the 2008 ''Simshar'' tragedy and recovered the decomposing body of the Somali fisherman who was on the sunken boat.<ref name=TimesOfMalta2012-07-20/> Like ''P51'' it also rescued hundreds of illegal immigrants over the years, such as: *2 June 2012: ''P52'' and a King Air aircraft intercepted a dinghy with 113 immigrants about 50 miles south of Dingli<ref name=TimesOfMalta2012-06-02>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120602/local/migrants.422424 | title=Patrol boat brings in 113 migrants | publisher=Times of Malta | date=2012-06-02 | accessdate=2014-05-05 }}</ref> *20 July 2014: 81 migrants were transferred to ''P52'' from the freighter which rescued them from their boat in distress<ref name=TimesOfMalta2014-07-20>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140720/local/updated-81-more-migrants-rescued-29-dead-migrants-brought-to-malta.528411 | title=Updated: 81 more migrants rescued, 29 dead migrants brought to Malta | publisher=Times of Malta | date=2012-07-20 | accessdate=2014-07-24 }}</ref> *28 August 2014: 257 migrants were transferred to ''P52'' and another patrol boat from a cargo ship which rescued them from their sinking boat<ref name=TimesOfMalta2014-08-28>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140828/local/257-migrants-brought-to-malta-bigger-number-of-children-than-usual.533498 | title=257 migrants brought to Malta – bigger number of children than usual | publisher=Times of Malta | date=2014-08-28 | accessdate=2014-08-30 }}</ref> *9 January 2019: 49 migrants were transferred to ''P52'' and sister ship ''P51'' from NGO vessels ''Sea-Watch 3'' and ''Sea-Eye'' after they spent 19 days going back and forth into Maltese territorial waters.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Malta allows migrants off rescue ships in 8-nation EU deal|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/malta-taking-stranded-migrants-off-boats-eu-deal-60260379|access-date=2021-03-25|website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Scicluna|first=Chris|date=2019-01-09|title=Malta disembarks migrants sparking Italy government clash|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-malta-idUSKCN1P313U|access-date=2021-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-01-09|title=EU nations reach deal on stranded migrants, Malta announces|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46808509|access-date=2021-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Watch: Migrants finally touch land, as Muscat offers a blunt explanation for stand-off|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/deal-at-last-for-long-suffering-stranded-migrants.698798|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Times of Malta|language=en-gb}}</ref> *25 May 2019: 216 migrants were rescued by ''P52'' and the ''P21'' after distress calls where received from 2 rubber dinghies during the night. Both dinghies were inside Maltese territorial water.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hundreds of migrants and refugees rescued off Malta, Italy|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/5/25/hundreds-of-migrants-and-refugees-rescued-off-malta-italy|access-date=2021-03-25|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Armed Forces of Malta rescue 216 migrants - The Malta Independent|url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2019-05-25/local-news/Armed-Forces-of-Malta-rescue-216-migrants-6736208630|access-date=2021-03-25|website=www.independent.com.mt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=More than 200 migrants rescued by AFM in two separate missions|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/more-than-200-migrants-rescued-by-afm-in-two-separate-missions.710937|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Times of Malta|language=en-gb}}</ref> *5 June 2019: On this day the ''Armed forces of Malta'' rescued a total of 370 migrants in 4 separate occasions. The final group of 99 migrants to be rescued were brought to Malta aboard the ''P52''. This day was by far one of the busiest in recent history for the navy. Prior to this rescue ''P21'' and ''P61'' were also involved in the other rescue operations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=More than 370 migrants rescued by AFM, in busiest day of arrivals in recent years|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/migrants-rescued-by-afm.711971|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Times of Malta|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=UPDATED (2): Total of 370 immigrants landed in three voyages - TVM News|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/second-group-of-147-imupdated-2-total-of-370-immigrants-landed-in-three-voyagesmigrants-enter-hay-wharf/|access-date=2021-03-25|website=TVM English|language=en-US}}</ref> *23 June 2019: 37 migrants were rescued by the ''P52'', from a boat that has been on the water for more than a day and fell under the Maltese SAR zone. An NGO claimed that some of the migrants were very close to death. All 37 males were brought safely to port.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rescued migrants arrive in Malta|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/rescued-migrants-arrive-in-malta.716184|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Times of Malta|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=UPDATED: 37 migrants brought to Malta - landed at Hay Wharf - TVM News|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/some-40-migrants-expected-to-arrive-in-malta/|access-date=2021-03-25|website=TVM English|language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|refs= <ref name=timesofmalta2012-11-12> {{cite news | url = https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121112/local/one-patrol-boat-2-169-persons-rescued.445125 | title = One patrol boat, 2,169 persons rescued | work = Times of Malta | date = 2012-11-12 | accessdate = 2018-09-30 }} </ref> }}

==External links== * {{commons category-inline|Marine Protector class cutters}}

{{Marine Protector-class coastal patrol boat}}

*Protector class *